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EFTBA Meets In Newmarket

The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations held its 2021 AGM on Nov. 23 in Newmarket, where the movement of Thoroughbreds between Europe and the UK post Brexit was one of the key topics discussed. The federation is continuing its work on securing HHB status for Thoroughbreds.

Plans were also made for the federation to produce a European stud farm environmental impact study, and a sub committee was formed to look into the formulation of an official federation welfare strategy to raise awareness about the high level of care Thoroughbreds receive across Europe.

“Despite the many challenges and threats facing the European bloodstock industry, breeders have displayed great resolve and determination in working to overcome these obstacles,” said EFTBA Chairman Joe Hernon. “While these challenges continue to have a series impact on the European Thoroughbred industry, I would like to assure all that EFTBA is steadfast in its commitment to deliver for Thoroughbred breeders during these uncertain times.”

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Horse Welfare And Anti-Doping Technology To Be Used At 2021 Breeders’ Cup

With the new Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) in place, racing industry leaders in the United Stares have continued to embrace sweeping reforms. One of the most recent changes will be the use of Kildare-based Equine MediRecord's (EMR) revolutionary anti-doping and horse welfare software at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar.

The agreement is the latest notch in the belt of a company that launched its system just three years ago, but has already amassed an impressive list of clients including the Thoroughbred Owners of California, Irish Veterinary and Welfare Commission, Irish Harness Racing Association, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and the Arabian Racing Organization. EMR first provided their system to the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., last year. With the event moving to California's Del Mar Racecourse and falling under the supervision of the California Horse Racing Board, EMR has developed a new system to comply with this year's rules and regulations pertaining to equine welfare and anti-doping protocols.

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EMR sells and maintains a revolutionary software platform that allows for the full veterinary history of the horse to be recorded securely, ensuring the best possible horse welfare as well as aiding with crucial anti-doping procedures. The new system EMR has developed for the Breeders' Cup World Championships will automatically inform trainers from across the world of the safety and integrity regulations that need to be followed and what documents need to be submitted through the system to allow horses to run in the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar. The Breeders' Cup has been a leader in adopting and creating stringent regulations to ensure the welfare and safety of the human and equine athletes competing at its event.

EMR already boasts a number of endorsements from key stakeholders in the U.S., including the Executive Director of the California Horse Racing Board, Scott Chaney and Dr. William Farmer, the Equine Medical Director of Churchill Downs. “The Equine MediRecord system is a major breakthrough in providing the latest and most comprehensive medical and testing records for all participants in this year's World Championships,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer, “We are proud to partner with EMR again for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar.”

Once records are entered into the system, they cannot be altered, providing integrity and transparency for all concerned. With strict requirements in place for the competition at the Breeders' Cup, such a tool is needed to ensure the integrity of the records while also allowing them to be digitally submitted to regulators like the California Horse Racing Board and Breeders' Cup officials. This procedure also eliminates passing around paperwork to various partners who are following COVID-19 protocols.

Equine MediRecord CEO, Pierce Dargan said: “It was an amazing privilege to work with the Breeders' Cup for the first time last year and we are of course extremely happy to work with them for the World Championships at Del Mar this year. Given it is in a different regulatory jurisdiction this year, California instead of Kentucky, changes had to be made to ensure it complied with the state rules. We believe our system has a role to play in the movement to help ensure that our children will be able to enjoy horse racing the way we have for generations – to be a part of that work is an honor and highly rewarding.”

The Breeders' Cup has always been a leader when it comes to adopting best welfare and anti-doping protocols. With the sport and its integrity in the spotlight, the Irish innovation is sure to be adopted by more top racing organizations that are looking to ensure thevbest possible welfare and anti-doping practices for the horses in their care.

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The post Horse Welfare And Anti-Doping Technology To Be Used At 2021 Breeders’ Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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British Horseracing Authority Bans Assistant Trainer 15 Months For Striking Horses

The British Horseracing Authority has issued a 15-month ban to former assistant trainer Neil Harris over two videos of incidents showing him striking horses during jumps schooling, reports racingpost.com.

The incidents occurred on Dec. 3, 2017 and Aug. 7, 2020, and were brought to the BHA in March 2021. Harris' ban is backdated to March 16, 2021.

“Welfare and the care of horses is absolutely paramount,” James O'Mahony, the BHA disciplinary panel's chairman, told racingpost.com. “In the first footage, there is in our judgement a loss of temper, which is completely inappropriate.

“Yet perhaps the most disturbing feature was blows to the face and neck of the horse concerned. In the second video, there's also the use of a solid implement. His attitude must of course be changed if he thinks for one moment he can do anything like this again.”

Study: No Proof Horses Bond To Humans

Though many horse owners believe their horses are bonded to them, The Horse reports there's actually no scientific evidence demonstrating this.

Dr. Elke Hartmann of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences compared horse and human bonds to the bonding that occurs between dogs and humans. Dogs often consider their humans safe and will stay near them when they are afraid. Hartmann notes that horses may not express their attachment in the same ways dogs do, seeking them out in times of stress, or jumping on or playing with humans. We don't yet know what behaviors to look for demonstrating attachment from horses.

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Hartmann said evidence has shown that horses are often relaxed around humans with whom they are familiar, though this may depend on the type of training the horse receives from the human. To determine if positive reinforcement caused horses to bond with their trainers, Hartmann and a research team used 12 Standardbred school horses between five and 13 years old in a recent study. The horses had been trained for handling, riding and driving by students using negative reinforcement (meaning the release of pressure).

The horses were given tests using a familiar and an unfamiliar human, both before and after training which used different reinforcement models: negative reinforcement alone, negative reinforcement with food-based positive reinforcement, or negative reinforcement with wither-scratching positive reinforcement.

Hartmann reported that no matter the training method, all horses were calmer after the training, but in general, they showed little difference between the familiar trainer and the unfamiliar human.

Horses taking part in the obstacle course after training using wither scratching took significantly less time to complete the course when paired with the familiar trainer. The scientists believe that scratching may aid in the development of a horse-trainer bond since it's a mutual grooming technique.

Though humans who spend more time with their horses may develop attachments, Hartmann believes more work is needed to prove the phenomenon happens for the horse. Until then, Hartmann encourages humans to manage their equine relationship expectations. Horse owners shouldn't put themselves in dangerous situations because they feel the horse “loves” them and therefore won't harm them: A horse might not respond the way a bonded human would.